Caption: Sometimes you get lucky is a recurring theme for me - on the 31st of December 2014 I found myself on forced vacation due to plant shutdown at work, a sunny morning, and a few hours to kill before I tend to other matters. Why not get some photos. So I headed to the Bayview area to start with Amtrak and SOR

To the layperson from California or in the greater USA, this scene could be anywhere Amtrak runs with a small yard. But if you look closely by the York Rd Bridge you'll see some familiar zebra stripes. We're at CN/SOR Stuart St yard in Hamilton, VIA 97 is passing the SOR yard job switching cars, and CN 550 is rescuing 555 in the far distance.

By the time I took this photo it had been nearly 30 minutes since 555 was being rescued by 550 and it sounded like departure of 550 was imminent. I was very uncertain of my chances of getting somewhere to see or even photograph that action, but I was lucky. I was very lucky the morning of the 31'st of December 2014. Photo of 550/555 rescue
30 minutes of action at Hamilton later that morning

A great way to end the year and an excellent use of a half day of forced vacation :) More luck from the 31st yet to come.. later though... :)